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Episode Summary
Shooting Scripts
Teaser
EXT. PARK – NIGHT
BUFFY RUNS, flat out, chased by a horrible, non-human shape. Then she STUMBLES and falls.
Stepping into frame next to her: two not-human feet and the tip of a tail. Trouble. But she smiles and
ROLLS suddenly and SWEEPS the demon’s feet and draws a knife, towering over the demon, still on
the ground.
BUFFY
You demons just can’t resist a
run-and-stumble, can you?
For the first time she gets a good look at its face: scabby, oozy and mouthless. She shudders and
moves closer with the knife when… it’s KICKED out of her hand and caught by the demon on the
ground! She whirls and faces the kicker: a SECOND DEMON, identical to the first. She and it circle
each other… she’s positioning it between herself and the first demon, who now has the knife. Just
when the second demon is between her and the first, the first demon THROWS the knife… right at
the back of its partner’s head. Incredibly, without looking, the second demon DUCKS… the knife sails
over his head, right at Buffy. She grabs it out of the air in one quick move and faces the second
demon.
BUFFY
Say “Uncle”. Oops. No mouth.
She lunges forward and STABS it. She has to wrench the knife free, and as she pulls her left hand
away, a SMEAR OF THICK LIQUID glistens on Buffy’s skin. She doesn’t notice it, and the liquid starts
to GLOW. Buffy straightens her clothes, brushes off dirt, unaware, as the glowing liquid SOAKS INTO
her skin, leaves no trace.
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
Act One
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Buffy and Willow enter the library, where Oz, Xander and Giles are discussing the Ascension.
WILLOW
Scabby Demon got away?
BUFFY
Scabby Demon number two got away.
Scabby Demon one, big check in the
“Slay” column.
WILLOW
I don’t like this “no mouth” thing.
It’s disquieting.
(realizing)
Unless they have them somewhere
else…
GILES
Good morning, girls. We’ve just been
researching the Mayor’s upcoming
Ascension.
OZ
It’s pretty riveting stuff.
BUFFY
What do we know?
XANDER
What don’t we know?! Tell her, Giles.
GILES
Well, based on the supposed date,
Graduation Day, and the Mayor
being impervious to harm, I’ve
cross referenced…
XANDER
He’s a cross referencing fool.
GILES
…and I have eliminated several
possibilities. It is not the ritual flaying
of the demon Azorath, nor the… the-
(off their looks)
I don’t know what’s going to happen.
OZ
That was kind of an anticlimax.
BUFFY
So we don’t know anything? The
whole thing with Angel and Faith
was for nothing?
GILES
No, no. If nothing else, Angel’s
charade succeeded in bringing
Faith’s treachery into the open. And
this information about the Ascension
will prove useful; I just have to put it
together.
WESLEY hurries in.
WESLEY
Terribly sorry. I was detained. Official
Council business. Giles, you were
talking?
Buffy scratches her hand… where the demon goo got on it.
GILES
I was just filling Buffy in on my
progress regarding researching the
Ascension.
WESLEY
Oh? And what took up the rest
of the minute?
GILES
(very humble)
Touche. My work is, after all,
unofficial, and my sources are limited.
I’m sure, however, with the resources
of the Council behind you, that you have
something to add. We’re all ears.
Giles sits down with the others, and makes a show of staring at Wesley with intent interest.
WESLEY
Well, I… I am pleased to state with
certainty that the demon Azorath
will not be involved in-
Everyone is getting up, collecting their books.
WESLEY
I’m sure we’ll find out more soon.
Buffy, Xander, Willow, Oz exit.
GILES
(scornful; to Wesley)
The demon Azorath.
INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS (DAY)
The hall is full of posters and banners: “Go Razorbacks!” and “Future 1999 Division Champs!”. Oz
kisses Willow and splits off, the other three hit their lockers.
WILLOW
Have you talked to Angel lately?
BUFFY
Not really. Seeing him bad again,
even pretend bad… and with Faith…
WILLOW
He only smootched her for the
greater good.
BUFFY
I don’t know… to the naked eye,
it looks like fun. Or maybe it wasn’t,
maybe he was never tempted… I just
wish I could be sure.
WILLOW
As always, I advise you to ask.
BUFFY
Like he’d tell me.
Absently, she scratches the back of her hand.
Two tall, athletic boys walk through the hall: basketball players. One of them is PERCY, Willow’s
tutoring project. The other is HOGAN MARTIN. He’s clearly a star, not just athletic, but charismatic
and good-looking.
STUDENT
Hogan! Great game, man!
HOGAN
Thanks!
PERCY
(to the student)
Just wait till tonight.
XANDER
Hogan Martin. Thinks he’s so hot.
Like we should all be awed by him
’cause he can put a ball in a net.
HOGAN
Hey, Xander.
XANDER
He said my name! He knows my
name!
They stop by the Buffy group.
PERCY
Willow, hey.
WILLOW
Hi.
PERCY
I can’t make the study session after
school today. Can we do it fifth
period?
WILLOW
Okay. Did you do the reading?
PERCY
Most of it…
WILLOW
Percy…
PERCY
I’ll finish it at lunch.
WILLOW
That’s my little trooper.
HOGAN
I don’t know what you’re doing to him;
I actually heard him complete a sentence.
Had a clause and everything.
The two sportsmen start to leave. Percy addresses Willow as they go.
PERCY
You’re gonna watch the game, right?
WILLOW
Wouldn’t miss it.
XANDER
See ya, Hogan.
BUFFY
You’re going to the game? I didn’t think
you watched basketball.
WILLOW
I didn’t either. But I’ve really been
getting into it, and now we’re in the
championship and it’s so exciting!
It’s too bad you’re patrolling ’cause
we’re all going, Xander and Oz.
Everybody.
BUFFY
Right. Everybody who isn’t currently
Buffy.
She is still scratching her hand. She stops, looking at it. Puzzles.
INT. GILES’ OFFICE – DAY
Buffy is studying her irritated hand while Giles looks through his books.
GILES
You touched one of the demons.
BUFFY
A “good touch,” not a “bad touch.”
Anyway, it’s been itching like crazy.
No big. Just another problem for the
good people at Lubriderm, right?
GILES
These are the demons in question?
He shows her a drawing of the two from the Teaser.
BUFFY
In the disgusting flesh.
GILES
Hmm.
BUFFY
What?
GILES
Oh, it says that they can infect a host —
BUFFY
Infect? Infect?… Infect?
GILES
Infect a host with “an aspect of the
demon.” That’s all it says. I say,
that’s rather terse, isn’t it?
BUFFY
I’m going to get an aspect of them?
Like, a part of them?
GILES
Of course, there are many other
explanations for your hand. A new
fabric softener can cause irritation.
But just in case, I’d advise you not
to try to track the one that got away.
Let’s minimize your exposure.
Buffy is staring at the picture. These demons have no appealing aspects.
BUFFY
A part of the demon. I hope it’s not
the outside part.
EXT. FOUNTAIN COURT – DAY
Pep rally. CORDELIA is one of the cheerleaders. They’re doing little routines and chants in honor of
each of the players on the team. Buffy, Willow, Xander and Oz look on from the crowd.
CHEERLEADERS
H-O-G-A-N. IT’S HOGAN!
GO HOGAN!
The cheerleaders wave their pompoms around the star player. He waves. The crowd YELLS and
APPLAUDS. Buffy absently runs a hand over her hair.
BUFFY
Is it just me or is this really lame?
OZ
I don’t know. Usually I enjoy lameness,
and this is leaving me cold.
Willow is idly flipping through the school newspaper, “The Sunnydale High Sentinel.” The headline:
“GRADES ARE MEANINGLESS”.
WILLOW
Well, according to Freddy’s latest
editorial the pep rally is a place for
“pseudo-prostitutes to provoke men
into a sexual frenzy, which, when
thwarted, results in pointless athletic
competition”.
They all watch the cheerleaders bounce.
CHEERLEADERS
GET THE BALL AND STUFF IT!
STUFF IT!
XANDER
The downside being…
WILLOW
The school paper is edging towards
depressing lately. Have you guys
noticed that?
OZ
I don’t know; I always go straight
to the obits.
Buffy runs her hand over her hair again. Willow gently nudges her over to the edge of the crowd
where they can talk.
WILLOW
Buffy? What are you doing?
BUFFY
Nothing.
(then, an admission)
Checking for horns.
WILLOW
Oh, Buffy. You know, I don’t even
think Giles is right about you becoming
like a demon. He’s totally burnt,
dealing with Faith and this
Ascension thing. Between you
and me, he’s not doing his best work.
BUFFY
But what if he’s right? I’m suddenly
gonna grow a demon part and I don’t
even know which one. It could be scales,
or claws, or —
(off Willow’s look)
–what?
WILLOW
Was it a boy demon?
Buffy’s face is a study.
BACK BY THE CHEERLEADERS
Xander and Oz watch the cheerleaders.
CHEERLEADERSS
T-O-M. IT’S TOM! GO TOM!
XANDER
They’re really very good.
OZ
Well, their spelling’s improved…
XANDER
You know, Oz, I look at all this
beauty. All these… healthy young
women and I wonder why I even
wasted my time with Cordelia.
Look at her, she’s no better looking
than the rest of them.
OZ
None of them are really my–
XANDER
Oh my god. He’s looking at her.
Oz turns and sees Wesley standing at the edge of the crowd, watching the rally.
XANDER
He’s got his filthy adult Pierce Brosnan-y
eyeballs all over my Cordy.
OZ
You’re a complex man, aren’t you?
BACK BY WILLOW and Buffy
Buffy is pouring out her heart to Willow… a close moment between good friends.
BUFFY
I’m just… I’m really scared, Will.
There’s something in me and I can’t
stop it, I can’t find it, and what if it
changes me, not just the way I look,
but… I could be something that’s not
me anymore.
WILLOW
Yay! Whoo-hoo!
(then)
Sorry. They spelled Percy. I had to
show support. He’s needy. But I heard
you. Really. And I understand. I would
be frightened too. But–
The rally is breaking up. The opportunity for private talk is over. Xander and Oz join the girls.
BUFFY
Let’s keep it between us for now,
okay?
WILLOW
Okay.
XANDER
Man, I’m pumped for the game tonight.
WILLOW
It’s gonna be fun.
(off Buffy)
If you like that sort of thing.
BUFFY
That’s okay. Patrolling is fun too.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Buffy patrols alone, carrying her Slayer bag. No fun. She sighs and rubs at her hand. She takes a
mirror out of her bag, looks at her face.
BUFFY
Well, I’ve still got a mouth.
ANGLE: THE MIRROR
Positioned so Buffy could see someone standing behind her. There’s nothing there. She turns and
finds herself facing ANGEL. She jumps.
ANGEL
Sorry.
BUFFY
It’s okay. I didn’t see you so I
should’ve known you were there.
What are you doing here?
ANGEL
It’s a dangerous time. You know,
with Faith…
BUFFY
Yeah. Faith… She, well… Faith.
What can you say about her?
She waits, but Angel says nothing about her:
ANGEL
I just want to make sure you’re okay.
That you’re safe.
Buffy looks searchingly at Angel.
BUFFY
And the fact that you’re right here.
Does that mean Faith’s around? Are
you keeping me safe by tracking me
or by tracking her?
ANGEL
I’m tracking you.
(beat)
Something’s bothering you.
BUFFY
Oh, lots of things.
Will Angel bring up Faith now? No. Buffy sighs.
BUFFY
The most recent is this demon. Two,
actually. Ooky-looking with extra ook.
Well, I kind of… got one of them on me,
and now I might get a big case of the
bumpies or a tail or something…
ANGEL
“An aspect of the demon.”
BUFFY
You now the drill…
ANGEL
By rumor. But that doesn’t mean
anything. Sometimes demons
exaggerate their power.
BUFFY
Demon-hype. Or maybe not. But, hey,
I spend all my time here in the dark
anyway. Not like I’d be at a game or
out with friends or something where
people’d see me and my new monster-part.
Buffy stands up and walks. Angel follows, takes her by the arm. She stops.
ANGEL
Believe me, I won’t let anything hurt
you if I can help it. And no matter what
happens, I’ll be with you. I’ll love you
even if you’re covered with slime.
BUFFY
I liked everything up until that.
INT. LOUNGE – MORNING (DAY)
Willow, Xander, and Oz are on their feet, rehashing last night’s game.
WILLOW
Could you believe it? Right at the
buzzer! Three points for the win!
OZ
It was intense.
XANDER
Yeah, for a minute there I thought
you were gonna make an expression.
OZ
I felt one coming on, I won’t lie…
WILLOW
I’ve never seen anyone jump like
Hogan Martin. They should call him
“The Jumper.”
XANDER
Or a name that isn’t an article of
women’s clothing.
WILLOW
Shush.
They all quiet down as Buffy enters.
BUFFY
Ooh. Quietness. We either lost the
game or we won and you don’t want
me to feel bad.
Cordelia enters and talks with some friends of hers nearby.
WILLOW
Yeah, well, it wasn’t really a good
game.
XANDER
Yeah. Tall hoop, but then, tall guys,
so what’s the point.
OZ
Pretty dull.
Cordy must have been listening, because she’s all over this.
CORDELIA
Are you guys crazy? It was an incredible
game! I’ve never cheered so hard in my
life. I’ve still got knee-marks on my back.
(off their looks)
From the pyramid.
And she gives up. She moves across the room to her friends.
WILLOW
(to Buffy)
Yeah, well. I still bet patrolling was
way better. Because, wow, important.
BUFFY
I thought I saw a four-legged demon.
But it was a dog.
OZ
(interested)
A weredog?
BUFFY
Regular.
XANDER
Tough luck.
BUFFY
Yeah.
Xander is looking over at Cordy.
XANDER (V.O.)
I wonder if she and Wesley have
kissed.
BUFFY
It really bugs you, huh?
XANDER
What?
BUFFY
Cordelia and Wesley. Smootching.
XANDER
Man. You read my mind.
We push in on Buffy as it dawns on her that, in fact, she did.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Act Two
INT. HALLWAY – MORNING (DAY)
Buffy walks slowly toward the library. Teachers and other students pass her. She turns a corner and
almost runs into MR. BEACH, a teacher.
MR. BEACH
(pleasantly)
Whoa there. You watch where you’re
going now.
BUFFY
Sorry, Mr. Beach. I will.
As he leaves…
MR. BEACH (V.O.)
Students. If we could just get rid of
all the students…
Buffy stops and stares at his retreating figure. Starts walking again, looking more carefully about her.
A NERDY BOY walks by.
NERD (V.O.)
And when I’m a software jillionaire and
you’re all working at Arby’s, who’s the
loser then?
He’s gone. A HARASSED LOOKING GIRL goes by.
HARASSED GIRL (V.O.)
Maybe I’ll take French, I said. How
hard can it be? French babies learn it.
Idiot.
As that statement is just fading, over the top of it, another starts:
BAGGY-PANTS GUY (V.O.)
I swear, some day my pants are gonna
fall right off.
She looks over, sees a group of BAGGY-TROUSERED GUYS lounging by a locker. One of them hitches
up his pants uncomfortably. Buffy stifles a laugh.
CUTE GUY (V.O.)
God, Buffy’s so beautiful.
She is passing a CUTE GUY, sees him glancing at her. Pleased, she stops and comes back a step,
pretending to dig in her purse.
CUTE GUY (V.O.)
She has the sweetest face I ever saw.
And that body… Man I’d love to —
ANGLE ON: BUFFY
Reacting to what is clearly the filthiest ending the above sentence could possibly have. She hurries
away, past ANOTHER GUY. He looks at her and she reacts to his, even filthier, thought. She hurries,
arms crossed protectively over her body, and enters:
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Buffy follows Giles around as he selects and pulls books.
BUFFY
Is this the thing? The aspect-thing?
Because, I’ve got to say, it’s better than
a tail. I mean, it’s hard enough getting
jeans that fit right anyway…
GILES
Buffy. Slow down. I’m not even
convinced that you’re experiencing
genuine mind-reading. Most likely,
you’re projecting…
BUFFY
When I came in, a minute ago, you
thought, “Look at those shoes. If the
fashion magazines told her to, she’d
wear cats strapped to her feet.”
Giles stares at her, stunned.
GILES
I… that…
BUFFY
And by the way, cat-shoes? I mean,
what is that?
GILES (V.O.)
Of course. ‘Aspect of the demon’. The
demons are telepathic. That’s why they
don’t need mouths. I should have known.
Just before his voice-over is done, Giles starts speaking:
GILES
Of course. The demons are telepathic.
BUFFY
I know. You just told me. That’s why
they don’t need mouths. And you
should have known.
GILES
I… this is astounding.
BUFFY
It was happening in the hall. Principal
Snyder has “Walk Like an Egyptian”
stuck in his head. And the boys in this
school are seriously disturbed. It was
strange, but, Giles, it’s like this whole
secret world is open to me. Think what
I can do.
GILES
It would be useful. You can anticipate
an opponent’s moves, turn their plans
against them…
BUFFY
Oh, way better than that.
CLOSE ON BUFFY:
BUFFY
Jealousy!
PULL BACK TO REVEAL WE ARE IN:
The history teacher, MS. MURRAY, faces the class. Buffy, Willow and Xander are in the class, along
with NANCY and FREDDY and others.
MS. MURRAY
(surprised)
Buffy. Right. Very good.
Willow and Xander look at Buffy with surprise. So does NANCY, a competitive girl.
NANCY (V.O.)
I knew that.
Nancy frowns at Buffy. Buffy looks at her innocently.
MS. MURRAY
Jealousy, clearly, is the tool that Iago
used to undo Othello. But what’s his
motivation? What reason does Iago
give for destroying his superior officer?
Under the end of Ms. Murray’s speech, we hear:
MS. MURRAY (V.O.)
“Cassio has my place…Twixt my sheets
he’s done my office…”
BUFFY
(working it out)
Well, he was passed over for promotion,
Cassio was picked instead… and people
were saying Othello slept with his wife.
Everyone looks at her.
WILLOW (V.O.)
(surprised)
Buffy did the reading.
(more surprised)
Buffy understood the reading.
XANDER (V.O.)
When did she study? Was I supposed
to study? Ms. Murray’s kind of hot.
NANCY (V.O.)
I was going to say Cassio. I hate her.
Buffy looks sweetly at Nancy.
MS. MURRAY
Any other reason?
Nancy jumps in fast, before Buffy can talk:
NANCY
Race!
MS. MURRAY
Uh… good, Nancy. Can’t overlook that.
Nancy smirks.
FREDDY (V.O.)
Look at them, scrambling for the
teacher’s praise like pigeons
for old bread crusts.
Buffy looks around… sees FREDDY, dressed in black, slumped in his desk with a dark and brooding
look.
BUFFY
(whispered to Willow)
Who’s that guy?
WILLOW
Freddy Munson. He writes those
editorials for the school paper.
He’s sardonic.
FREDDY (V.O.)
Bread crusts. That’s deep. I should
write that down.
MS. MURRAY
Iago makes a lot of references to
Othello’s color, but he never specifically
cites race as a motive. Is there something
else at work here?
Buffy listens intently as she speaks, translating the teacher’s thoughts into her words…
BUFFY
Well, he sort of admits himself that
his motives are… spurious, he just
does things because he enjoys them…
sort of… Well it’s almost like he’s not a
person, like he’s a force of nature –
the dark half of Othello himself,
Othello’s fear and rage sort of…
embodied…
Everyone stares at Buffy.
MS. MURRAY/WILLOW/XANDER/NANCY
(raggedly overlapping)
Whoa.
MS. MURRAY
Buffy. Really. Very astute. I said
something quite like that in my
dissertation.
BUFFY
I know. I mean, I agree. With that.
MS. MURRAY
Yes, and doesn’t that also explain
Othello’s readiness to believe Iago?
Within seconds he turns on Desdemona,
belies that she’s unfaithful. And we’re
all like that; we all have little internal
Iagos telling us our husbands or our
girlfriends or whatever don’t really
love us. We can never see what’s in
their hearts. We doubt. We worry.
Buffy’s smiles fades, as she’s reminded of another part of her life.
MS. MURRAY
Most of us don’t go to as extreme
measures as Othello, thank goodness…
INT. MANSION – DAY
Angel, sleepy-eyed and tousled, opens the door. Buffy is there. He flinches at the indirect sunlight
and steps back.
BUFFY
Hi. Sorry about the daytime. I just
ducked out of school and that’s when
they have it.
Buffy enters and sits on the sofa — even in the middle of the day, the place is dark.
BUFFY
You look good. I mean, I saw you
last night, but sometimes things change
real quick. I mean, really quickly.
Listen to me, I’m talking like Faith.
Buffy concentrates, trying to hear Angel’s thoughts.
BUFFY
Not that she was so bad to have
around. Before the evil. I think she
was hurting a lot. Some people,
protective-type people, might be
drawn to that, I guess.
She listens… nothing.
BUFFY
The thing about Faith…
Angel looks Buffy right in the eyes, and…
ANGEL
You can’t get into my mind.
BUFFY
How did you–? And why not?
ANGEL
It’s like the mirror. The thoughts
are there, but they create no
reflection in you.
(then)
You got your “aspect of the demon.”
BUFFY
Yeah. Giles doesn’t know how
long it’s going to last, but it’s okay.
A little headachy, but…
ANGEL
You don’t have to play games with
me, Buffy. Ever.
BUFFY
Well, you’re not exactly Joe Here’s
What I’m Thinking.
ANGEL
So ask me.
BUFFY
Oh. But that would make sense.
ANGEL
What do you want to know about?
Faith? How I felt kissing her? Pretending
to have no soul? Watching you suffer?
BUFFY
Well, since you want to talk about
those things…
ANGEL
I hated hurting you. It cut me deeper
than I’ve ever been cut. More than
I can stand.
Buffy is moved. She rests her head on his shoulder, just for a moment… not quite a hug, but a tiny
step forward.
BUFFY
Thank you. Um… and the Faith part
of the question? I mean, I guess I’d
understand… she’s got this whole “bad
girl” thing going on…
ANGEL
Kissing her meant nothing. I don’t want
a bad girl. I’ve done that before. I’ve
lived a long time, Buffy, and I’m past
that. I’ve been with dozens of girls like
her. More.
BUFFY
Oh, this honesty stuff is fun.
ANGEL
There’s no comparison. In 243 years
I’ve loved exactly one person.
BUFFY
Oh.
(beat)
It’s me, right?
He smiles.
ANGEL
Next time, just ask.
BUFFY
Okay.
ANGEL
And Buffy, be careful with this gift.
A lot of things that seem good and
strong and powerful… they can be
painful.
BUFFY
Like, say, immortality?
ANGEL
Exactly. I’m dying to get rid of that.
BUFFY
Funny.
ANGEL
(intensely)
I’m a funny guy.
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
The whole group: Buffy, Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordy, Giles and Wesley. Trying to absorb new info.
XANDER
She can read our mind? Our every
impulse and fantasy?
BUFFY
Every one.
XANDER (V.O.)
Oh god.
CORDELIA (V.O.)
I don’t see what this has to do with me.
CORDELIA
I don’t see what this has to do with me.
WILLOW
Well, I think it’s good. Right? I mean,
you enjoy your other Slayer powers.
BUFFY
Yeah! It’ll be fun. Did you see Nancy
Doyle’s face in English class?
WILLOW (V.O.)
She’s hardly even human any more.
How can I be her friend now? She
doesn’t need me.
BUFFY
No, I need you! I do.
CORDELIA
Okay, who are you talking to? Because
you are just so creepy right now.
Giles speaks, Buffy listening to thoughts during his monologue — she pays no attention to him (and
neither do we).
GILES
Well, there must be some precedent
for this sort of occurrence. I’ll start
researching it. Wesley, you’ll give me
a hand?
WESLEY
Of course.
OZ (V.O.)
I am my thoughts. If they exist in her,
Buffy contains everything that is me
and she becomes me. I cease to exist.
OZ
Huh.
XANDER (V.O.)
What am I going to do? I think about
sex all the time. Sex. Help. Four times
five is thirty. Five times six is thirty-two…
Naked girls. Naked women. Naked Buffy.
Oh, stop me.
BUFFY
Xander, is that all you think about?
XANDER
Actually…? Bye.
Almost running, Xander exists.
WESLEY
Xander has just illustrated something.
Chances are, you’re all going to find
yourself thinking whatever you least want
Buffy to hear. It’s a matter, of course,
of mental discipline…
Under his speech we hear:
WESLEY (V.O.)
Look at Cordelia. No! Don’t look at
Cordelia! She’s a student! Oh, I am
bad. A bad, bad man.
Buffy looks at Wesley. He knows he’s caught.
WESLEY
Excuse me.
Wesley exists to the office. Giles watches Buffy interact with her friends.
WILLOW
What’s it like, Buffy?
BUFFY
Oh, Will, it’s… weird. And please,
don’t think I don’t need you, because
I really want to share this. It’s… like
all these doors opening into all these
little worlds and I can just walk in.
As Buffy talks, she starts to hear, underneath:
WILLOW (V.O.)
She knows so much. She knows what
Oz is thinking. I never know that. Before
long she’ll know him better than I do…
BUFFY
Willow… don’t think that.
WILLOW
I can’t help it!
OZ (V.O.)
No one else exists either. Buffy is
all of us. We think, therefore she is.
WILLOW
I’m sorry, Buffy. I just can’t…
She gets up to go. Oz rises also, focussed on Willow.
OZ
If you don’t need me, I’m gonna
follow the redhead.
BUFFY
Okay.
They exit. And Buffy’s alone with Giles and Cordy.
BUFFY
Well, I guess I won’t write that book
“Win Friends Through Telepathy.”
CORDELIA (V.O.)
Whatever. I wonder when I can go.
CORDELIA
Whatever. Can I go?
Wesley sticks his head out from Giles’ office.
WESLEY
Can you hear me thinking in here? I
could go out in the hall.
BUFFY
(to Wesley)
You know what? You stay. I’ll go.
I’m getting a headache.
Buffy exits alone.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Buffy walks from the library toward the cafeteria. Among others heading to the cafeteria: Mrs. Beach,
Freddy, Nancy. The hallway is full of people doing completely ordinary things. Some look happy. Most
look blank. Buffy overlapping thoughts. It’s impossible to pair the thoughts with their owners… it’s as
if the thoughts are in the air.
VOICES (V.O.)
She is so hot. I swear I will scream
from boredom. No one’s ever going
to love me. What if I never get breasts?
I can’t believe the test is today. Get rid
of the students, it’s that easy. What if
I’m the last virgin in the world?
Buffy’s face reflects the building confusion and pain. She rubs her forehead, and actually stumbles as
she walks.
INT. GILES’ OFFICE – DAY
Giles and Wesley, surrounded by open volumes. Giles finds something.
GILES
Here. It’s happened before. A man in
Ecuador, quite recently.
WESLEY
Can we contact him?
GILES
I would say not. He can’t communicate
with anyone.
WESLEY
Dead?
GILES
No. He’s in complete isolation. The
power. He can’t shut it off.
Buffy stands a little unsteadily in line as the LUNCH LADY plops unappetizing food onto students’
plates. In the b.g. are Nancy, Freddy, Mr. Beach, Hogan and Larry, among others.
VOICES (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I hate my body. He is so cute I can’t
even look at him. Am I normal? When
am I ever going to need to know
algebra?
Buffy stands there. Eventually Jonathan addresses her:
JONATHON
Are you through with the potatoes?
Startled, Buffy looks at him.
JONATHON (V.O.)
She doesn’t even know I’m here.
She moves away.
VOICES (V.O.)
They’re all just like rats in a maze.
Look at everyone, they think this matters.
If I stand in just the right place I can sort
of see into the armhole of her top.
Buffy moves automatically down the line to get her dessert.
VOICES (V.O.)
He has the cutest butt. If I’m not
valedictorian I’m going to die.
I want her, I can’t have her, I hate her.
Buffy, dazed, walks toward a table. It’s impossible to pick out any one thought anymore… it’s
cacophony. Buffy sways. Then the cacophony fades. All the noise of the room fades away, and one
voice sounds alone. It’s whispery, harsh and distorted. It could be male or female, and it’s definitely
crazy.
KILLER (V.O.)
This time tomorrow, I kill you all.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Act Three
INT. CAFETERIA – CONTINUOUS (DAY)
Buffy stands in the middle of the room, holding her tray, looking around. People move and talk, but
we can’t hear them. Silence. Buffy sways and drops her tray. It lands silently. Food spatters. Then
the normal sounds of the cafeteria fade back up, now including the normal applause and hooting that
follows a dropped tray. Buffy reaches out, grabs the nearest arm, swings a student around, face-to-
face.
STUDENT
Hey!
STUDENT (V.O.)
She’s gone nuts.
Buffy lets them go, grabs someone else.
ANOTHER STUDENT (V.O.)
Wow, she DOES have a violent streak.
Buffy spins, grabs Jonathon.
JONATHON (V.O)
(dreamy)
She touched me.
And then it’s a building chorus again:
VOICES (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I hate being here. I bet she’s done
it lots of times. He’s such a show-off.
Everyone’s staring at my hair. I hate him.
Didn’t she wear that skirt yesterday?
The sound gets LOUDER. It BUILDS BACK UP to unintelligible noise. Buffy pushes Jonathan away, but
keeps turning in place, searching with her eyes.
BUFFY’S POV OF ROOM (360 degrees)
Faces, most staring back at her, swim in the front of her.
ANGLE ON: BUFFY
A Steadicam shot circling her as she spins and the noise continues to get LOUDER.
Her eyes close and she DROPS TO THE FLOOR. She’s out cold.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. SKY – BUFFY’S POV
A ring of concerned faces: Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander. Cordelia’s there too, but less concerned.
WILLOW/OZ/GILES/XANDER/CORDY (V.O)
(overlapping)
I think she’s walking up./She’s okay./
Thank goodness./Her eyes are
opening./I’m cold.
EXT. PINE GROVE – DAY
Buffy sits up with Giles’ help.
GILES
Are you all right?
CORDELIA
I told them not to move you. They
probably severed your spinal cord.
BUFFY
I’m okay.
GILES
Buffy–
BUFFY
Really, I am. Listen. There’s a killer
in the cafeteria.
XANDER
I’ve been saying for years that the lunch
lady’s going to do us all in with that mulligan
stew. I mean, what the hell is a mulligan?
BUFFY
Someone was thinking it. “This time
tomorrow, I kill you all.” I have to
find them.
GILES
You didn’t recognize the voice?
BUFFY
No.
WILLOW
Boy or girl?
BUFFY
I don’t know. It was so full of…
anger and pain, it was hardly human.
She gets up and starts walking toward the school. As she gets closer to the building, the CACOPHONY
starts building in her head. She stumbles. Giles catches her, steers her farther away. The noise fades.
GILES
You can’t.
BUFFY
I have to find them.
OZ
Are you sure they meant it?
XANDER
Yeah. I mean, who hasn’t just idly
thought about taking out the whole
place with a semi-automatic?
(off their looks)
I said idly.
BUFFY
I know the difference. He, she,
whoever, they meant it. They’re
going to do it.
WILLOW/OZ/GILES/XANDER/CORDY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
How horrible./Who could it be?/She
looks so tired./I bet it was Hogan./
I’m not getting any warmer.
BUFFY
Shut up!
Her friends recoil. Buffy holds her head.
BUFFY
I’m sorry. I just mean… stop thinking
so loud… or so much…
GILES
You have to go home, Buffy. I’ll
take you home.
BUFFY
Yeah, okay. But, you guys, you have
to do this. Go back in there, make a list,
everyone in the cafeteria. We’ve got to
find the killer before lunch tomorrow!
WILLOW
We’ll do it, Buffy. A list of all the
students.
BUFFY
Nancy was there. She’s scary. Teachers
too. Mr. Beach thought something
about getting rid of us…
GILES
(to Buffy)
Come on.
Willow leads the others back to the school as Buffy and Giles walk slowly toward his car parked at the
edge of the triangle. She leans on his arm slightly.
BUFFY
I can’t shut it out, Giles. I mean, it’s
like this… invasion of my head –
strangers walking around in there.
Look at this, I can’t even be around
people. Not that they’re clamoring
to be near me now anyway. Even you.
GILES
I’m sorry, Buffy. It’s hard for all of
us. But Wesley and I are looking
for a way to help.
BUFFY
I’m going to be okay, aren’t I? You
know, even if you can’t get rid of it?
GILES
You’ll be fine. I promise.
GILES (V.O.)
If it doesn’t go away, she’ll go insane.
Buffy stops and stares at him.
INT. LIBRARY – LATER (DAY)
Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordelia.
WILLOW
We have a list of the people in the
cafeteria. I’ll do some computer work,
match it against the FBI mass-murderer
profiles. We can rule some people out.
XANDER
I’m still having trouble with the idea
that one of us is just gonna gun
everybody down for no reason.
CORDELIA
(sarcastically)
Yeah, ’cause that never happens in
American high schools.
OZ
It’s bordering on trendy at this point.
WILLOW
Besides which: Sunnydale high. Center
of Evil and all that. So let’s get to work.
We have till lunch time tomorrow.
We hope.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – AFTERNOON (DAY)
Joyce is tucking Buffy into bed. Buffy is pale and shaky.
JOYCE
There. You look better already.
BUFFY
Thanks Mom–
Joyce exits into the hall.
JOYCE (O.S.)
I’m just getting you another pillow.
Joyce is back with the pillow.
BUFFY
I don’t really need —
Joyce is out again.
JOYCE (O.S.)
Just getting another blanket!
BUFFY
Mom!
Joyce is back with the blanket.
JOYCE
How about some soup? Chicken and stars?
BUFFY
Mom. Stop it. Come sit with me.
JOYCE
Well… I’ve got… laundry…
BUFFY
Why are you…
Buffy gasps.
BUFFY
You had sex with Giles. You had
sex with Giles!
Joyce is heading for the door.
JOYCE
It was the candy! We were teenagers!
BUFFY
On the hood of a police car?!
JOYCE
I’ll be downstairs! Feel better!
Joyce exits.
BUFFY
(called after)
Twice?!
INT. LIBRARY – LATER (DAY)
Willow has her computer set up on the table. With Xander, Oz and Cordy looking on, she takes a list
out of the printer.
WILLOW
Okay. I’ve taken our list and narrowed
it to a dozen strong suspects.
She hands out papers to Xander, Oz and Cordy.
WILLOW
These are your personalized
assignments.
XANDER
Oh, I was hoping there’d be assignments.
CORDELIA
I think I should work with Wesley.
XANDER
You have no shame.
CORDELIA
Oh, like shame is something to
be proud of.
WILLOW
Be quiet! Sorry, but this is important.
Talk to everyone on your list. Use
the sample questions. Today, people!
They head out…
WILLOW
(called after)
Oh! Write neatly and label your
worksheets!
INT. LIBRARY – LATER (DAY)
Jonathan, utterly confused, sits in the darkened room at the table facing a desk lamp.
Willow stands up and turns the lamp head toward him. He pulls back and squints into the light. The
scene becomes a reprise of the interrogation in “Go Fish”.
WILLOW
Fantasies are fun, aren’t they
Jonathan?
JONATHAN
I guess.
WILLOW
We all have fantasies where we’re
powerful and respected. Where people
pay attention to us.
JONATHAN
Maybe.
WILLOW
But sometimes the fantasy isn’t enough,
is it, Jonathan? Sometimes you have to
make it so people don’t ignore you. Make
them pay attention. You know what I’m
talking about, don’t you?
JONATHAN
You want me to pay attention?
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT – DAY
Oz is talking with Hogan, the basketball star, who practices jump shots with a ball. Oz holds his
“worksheet”.
HOGAN
This is for the yearbook?
OZ
(nodding)
“Personality profiles”.
HOGAN
Can you ask it again?
OZ
Do you ever feel that you’ve created a
false persona for yourself of the guy
who does everything right, and how
much of a strain does that put on you
to maintain it?
HOGAN
Huh. Wow. I guess… moderate strain?
Is that a good answer? I want to get
this right.
OZ
Uh-huh.
Oz checks something off on his list.
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Mr. Beach is erasing the blackboard in an empty room. Cordelia enters.
CORDELIA
Hi, Mr. Beach. I was just wondering
if you were planning on killing a bunch
of people tomorrow? Oh, it’s for the
yearbook.
EXT. PINE GROVE STAIRS – DAY
Xander addresses three cute girls.
XANDER
Okay, so ‘turn offs’ include smoking,
insensitive men and Birkenstocks.
Now, your idea of the perfect romantic
evening…
INT. SCHOOL NEWSPAPER OFFICE – DAY
Oz enters. No one there. Oz looks at the framed front pages on the walls. Headlines include:
“TEACHERS FAIL COMPETENCY EXAM,” “SCHOOL DEATH TOLL SETS RECORD,” “DEPRESSION LINKED
TO SCHOOL,” “APATHY ON THE RISE, NO ONE CARES,” and “DROP-OUTS FIND HAPPINESS”. Oz
exits.
ANGLE ON: FREDDY
Hiding under the desk.
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Giles and Wesley, surrounded by books and magick supplies, including a vial of liquid. They look
rumpled and tired.
WESLEY
Well, it seems to be coming along
all right.
GILES
Yes, Buffy’s being driving mad, we
have no proof this will work and it
still requires the heart of the second
demon, which we have no idea how
to get without the slayer.
WESLEY
Negative thinking doesn’t solve problems.
GILES
Berk.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Buffy stands at the window, looking out.
VIEW FROM BUFFY’S WINDOW
PAN across some typical Sunnydale houses. Over the first house:
WIFE (V.O.)
Look at him smiling, like he thinks I
don’t know about her…
This overlaps with:
HUSBAND (V.O.)
She doesn’t know a thing. I can’t
believe I’m getting away with this.
This overlaps with thoughts from the next house:
MAN (V.O.)
I should’ve just quit. No job’s worth
that crap.
And over the third house:
WOMAN (V.O.)
One more drink. That’ll do it. Just one
more and I can sleep…
Buffy shudders. She closes the window, the curtain, but now:
MAN (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Twenty years with that company.
WIFE (V.O.)
Does he think I can’t smell her
perfume?
WOMAN (V.O.)
It’s just a little drink.
MAN (V.O.)
He shouldn’t even be the boss.
WOMAN (V.O.)
The bottle’s almost empty anyway…
Buffy curls up on the bed, pulls the pillow over her head.
EXT. PARK – NIGHT
The surviving mouthless demon is flung backwards into frame — airborne for far longer than a
human assault could ever accomplish. Angel, in vamp face, bounds in after him, pressing his
advantage. The demon fights back with a series of hard punches that snap Angel’s head back. But,
on the last punch, Angel side-steps, and grabs the demon’s arm, and throws the demon to the
ground. Angel flings himself onto the demon, pinning it… But the demon flips Angel off him. Angel is
still finding his feet when the demon is on him… catching him brutally in the head with big sweeping
kicks. Angel staggers back, shaking his head to clear it. But the demon is gone. Angel looks up at the
still-dark sky, worried.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – MORNING (DAY)
The room is dark. Buffy is on the bed, twisting and mumbling. Joyce is in a chair, wrapped in a
blanket — she has clearly been sitting up all night. She gets up and wearily crosses to the window
and parts the curtains. She squints out at the early morning light.
INT. SCHOOL LOUNGE – MORNING (DAY)
Willow holds her list and talks to Nancy.
NANCY
Do I often imagine classmates are
spying on me or otherwise acting
suspiciously?
WILLOW
Right.
NANCY
Not ’til just now.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Freddy walks down the hall, turns a corner and sees: Oz, knocking at the door of the school
newspaper office.
OZ
Freddy? You there?
Freddy ducks back, out of sight. Oz gives up, and walks past where Freddy is hiding. Freddy runs off
the other way.
INT. SCHOOL LOUNGE – DAY
Xander and Larry are there.
LARRY
What? Talk louder, dude.
XANDER
(discreetly)
I’m just saying it’s got to be frustrating.
Having this secret? You gotta be kind of
filling up with resentment, unexpressed
rage waiting to burst out. Today at lunch.
LARRY
(loudly)
What secret? Being gay?
XANDER
Shhh!
LARRY
Man, I’m out. I’m so out I got my
grandma fixing me up with guys.
XANDER
Oh. That’s… nice?
LARRY
But it sounds like you’re having a
rough time with it.
XANDER
Again, may I suggest shhh?
LARRY
Look, just do it.
Freddy hurries by, making his escape from Oz. Larry spots him.
LARRY
(to Xander)
Look there. That weird Freddy
Munson guy who does the school
paper?
XANDER
He’s gay?
LARRY
No, dude, but I bet he’d put in, like,
a coming-out announcement for you.
Something tasteful.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – MORNING (DAY)
Buffy is still curled on the bed, hands clamped over her ears, every muscle tense and tortured. Joyce
and Giles look in on her from the doorway. Buffy MOANS.
JOYCE
I can’t stand this. I keep wondering if
I’m hurting her, with my thoughts.
GILES
You’re not. Not anymore. She can’t
pick one thought out of the… din.
He’s interrupted by the DOORBELL, followed by urgent KNOCKING.
INT. FOYER – DAY
Joyce runs down the stairs, Giles following. Wesley is there (he’s been downstairs), opens the front
door and steps aside, allows a shrouded figure in. Smoke curls off the blanket.
The figure beneath shrugs off the coverings… it’s Angel. He holds the vial. Now the liquid inside
GLOWS.
ANGEL
I got it.
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordy compare results. The table is covered with their scattered lists, and a
copy of the school paper. Headline: TEAM WINS SENSELESS CONTEST.
WILLOW
He’s the only one we couldn’t find?
OZ
Yeah. Freddy Munson.
CORDELIA
The newspaper guy? But we can’t
figure out it’s him without the worksheet,
right?
Xander has picked up the copy of the paper.
XANDER
Uh… we do have this, people. Today’s
editorial titled, “BIG GAME DRAWS
MINDLESS, BRAINDEAD MOB.”
CORDELIA
Does he mention the cheerleaders?
Because we were on.
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM – DAY
Angel is alone with Buffy. He tries to lift her into a sitting position on the bed. She fights him, weakly.
BUFFY
No. No!
ANGEL
I’m going to help you.
Buffy opens her eyes.
BUFFY
Who?
She doesn’t know him. That hurts. He holds the glowing vial of liquid to Buffy’s mouth, forces some
into her. Then he settles her in the bed and kisses her lightly on the lips. But as he stands up, she
gasps and CONVULSES. He grabs her, holds her, trying to control her flailing limbs.
ANGEL
Giles!
EXT. FOUNTAIN COURT – DAY
Students hang a new banner: “1999 CHAMPS!” Larry crosses through. Nancy sits on a bench,
reading.
CUT TO:
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE FOUNTAIN COURT
As our gang passes through at a fast walk. PULL BACK TO REVEAL we are:
INT. TOWER – DAY
Jonathan looks down at them. He kneels by a case on the floor. Opens it. Inside, separated into
parts, is a rifle.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Act Four
INT. BUFFY’S ROOM
Angel kneels beside the motionless Buffy, holding her hand. Joyce and Giles stand nearby. Buffy
opens her eyes.
JOYCE
Thank God.
ANGEL
Buffy?
She looks at him. Absolutely blank. Until…
BUFFY
Angel?
JOYCE
Are you all right? Do you hear thoughts?
BUFFY
(tries)
No…
(looks to Giles)
Did you find the killer?
INT. SCHOOL NEWSPAPER OFFICE – DAY
Freddy sits at his desk, writing. The door opens. Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordy enter. Freddy starts to
stand up, then drops back into his chair — caught.
FREDDY
Okay, Oz. You got me. What are your
friends going to do? Hold me down?
WILLOW
You better believe it, Buster. You can’t
threaten a big murder without getting us
pretty darn ticked.
FREDDY
Murder? What murder? You’re not
here about the review?
OZ
The review?
Freddy hands a paper to Oz.
FREDDY
Last Thursday.
OZ
(reading)
“‘Dingoes Ate My Baby’ play their
instruments as if they had plump Polish
sausages taped to their fingers…”
FREDDY
Sorry, man.
OZ
No. It’s fair.
FREDDY
I get a lot of hate mail. I sorta figured
you were bringing yours personally.
He indicates a box.
Cordy perches on the edge of the desk and starts idly opening and reading the mail from the in-box.
XANDER
Hey, if you happen to find a tasteful
announcement about me from Larry —
WILLOW
Xander. We have to figure this out.
CORDELIA
Oh, we have no shot. The killer could
be anyone. We lose.
BUFFY (O.S.)
We still have a few minutes.
Buffy is standing in the doorway. There is general excitement:
WILLOW
Buffy!
XANDER
You’re okay! Can you hear thoughts?
BUFFY
No.
XANDER
And just when I wasn’t thinking
about sex.
BUFFY
Okay. Here’s the new plan. We try to
get Snyder to evacuate the school and
just hope our bad guy isn’t waiting outside
with–
CORDELIA
(reading)
“By this time tomorrow, you’ll all know
what I’ve done.”
Slowly, everyone turns and stares at Cordy.
CLOSE ON: CORDELIA
CORDELIA
“…I’m sure you understand that I had
to do it, and that although death is never
easy, it is the only way.”
She tosses the letter aside.
CORDELIA
God, doesn’t anyone write in to praise
the cheerleaders? We are so unsung.
Willow scrambles for the discarded letter. Looks at the signature.
WILLOW
Jonathan. Ooh. I had him in my grasps,
the slippery weasel.
BUFFY
Split up. Find him.
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Oz looks in, flinging the door open on the run. The room’s empty. He moves on.
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Willow runs in, looks around, heads up into the stacks.
WILLOW
Jonathan? Are you in here?
INT. CAFETERIA – DAY
As Xander runs into the cafeteria, a few other early customers start drifting in.
XANDER
(urgently)
Jonathan?
He looks past the counter into the kitchen.
XANDER
Ooh. Jell-O.
INT. LOUNGE – DAY
Cordy sees someone from the back. Is it Jonathan? She spins him around, her hand cocked back to
punch. It isn’t. She pushes the terrified boy away and grabs another one…
EXT. FOUNTAIN COURT – DAY
Buffy pushes her way through the between-class crowd. She looks around frantically. She looks up
and sees the glint of sunlight off metal, a gun muzzle in the tower! She runs up the exterior
staircase. Nancy, in the courtyard, watches Buffy run. Buffy reaches the second level. She JUMPS up,
grabs the eaves and, using super-human Slayer strength and dexterity, she FLIPS herself over onto
the roof.
NANCY
I could have done that.
INT. TOWER – DAY
Jonathan is putting the rifle together. The muzzle protrudes over the edge of the tower.
EXT. ROOF – DAY
Buffy runs on the roof. She reaches the edge of the tower and JUMPS…
INT. TOWER – DAY
…CRASHING through into the tower. Buffy LANDS, ROLLS right into the line of fire of the rifle.
JONATHAN
Get away from me!
She comes up slow, eyes on him.
BUFFY
Okay, Jonathan, you wanna point
that somewhere else?
JONATHAN
You better not try and stop me.
BUFFY
No. No stopping. I’m just here for the
view. Hey look, city hall.
JONATHAN
Go away.
BUFFY
Never gonna happen.
JONATHAN
You think I won’t use this?
BUFFY
I don’t know, Jonathan, I’m just —
JONATHAN
Stop doing that!
BUFFY
Doing what?
JONATHAN
Stop saying my name like we’re friends.
We’re not friends. You all think I’m an
idiot. A short idiot.
BUFFY
I don’t.
His hands tighten on the gun. He’s getting angry.
BUFFY
I don’t think about you much at all.
Most people here don’t. Bugs you,
doesn’t it? You’ve got all this pain,
all these feelings and nobody’s
paying attention.
JONATHAN
You think I just want attention?
BUFFY
No, I think you’re in the bell tower
with a high powered rifle because you
want to blend in. Believe it or not, Jonathan,
I understand. About the pain.
JONATHAN
Oh, right. ‘Cause the burden of being
beautiful and athletic, that’s a crippler.
BUFFY
I’m sorry, I was wrong. You are an idiot.
This stops him.
BUFFY
My life happens very occasionally to
suck beyond the telling of it. More than
I can stand sometimes. And not just me.
Every single person down there is
ignoring your pain because they’re way
too busy with their own. The beautiful
ones, the popular ones, the guys that
pick on you… everyone.
She comes around to look down at the courtyard. He looks as well, his grip on the gun loosening.
BUFFY
If you could hear what they’re feeling –
the confusion, the loneliness… It looks
quiet down there. It’s not. It’s deafening.
They stand side by side for a moment, looking down.
BUFFY
You know I could have taken the
gun by now.
JONATHAN
I know.
BUFFY
(holds out her hand)
Rather do it this way.
Slowly, he hands her the gun. Her hand is shaking a little as she takes it and unloads it.
JONATHAN
I just wanted it to stop.
BUFFY
Well, mass murder is not actually
doctor recommended for this kind
of pain. And by the way, prison? A
lot like high school, only instead
of noogies —
JONATHAN
What are you talking about?
BUFFY
Actions having consequences, stuff
like that —
JONATHAN
I wouldn’t ever hurt anybody. I came up
here to kill myself.
Off her look:
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
Xander sneaks in, heads right for the Jell-O. He’s just scooping out a big wobbly spoonful when he
glances to one side and sees the Lunch Lady, pouring powder from an enormous container marked
“RAT POISON” into the mulligan stew. They stand there for a second and stare at each other. Boy
with Jell-O. Woman with rat poison. Both caught. Finally it occurs to both of them that the thing she
was caught doing was worse than what he was caught doing. She lunges for Xander and he bolts
back into the cafeteria.
INT. CAFETERIA – DAY
By now the place is filling with people. Some of them have already loaded their trays with stew.
XANDER
Rat poison! Rat poison!
Everyone stares at him. At one table, diners are already dipping their utensils into the stew. Xander
OVERTURNS the table. Stew flies!
XANDER
Drop your spoons! Step away from
the spoons!
The Lunch Lady SCREAMS out of the kitchen, holding a huge CLEAVER and lunging for Xander. He
yelps and runs, his feet slipping in the spilled stew. He falls. The Lunch Lady is closing in on him
when Buffy steps right in front of her.
BUFFY
Okay, let’s calm down.
LUNCH LADY
Vermin you’re all vermin… you come
in and you eat and you eat! Filth!
BUFFY
I don’t see this being settled with logic.
The Lunch Lady lunges at her with the cleaver. Buffy knocks it aside with her bare hand, hitting the
flat of the blade. The woman strikes again and Buffy kicks-and-punches, knocking the Lunch Lady
backwards into tables and chairs and unconsciousness.
EXT. SCHOOL – MORNING (DAY)
Students stream toward the school. Among them, Willow and Buffy, carrying books.
WILLOW
So you’re feeling better about Angel.
BUFFY
Yeah. I mean, we talked, and he
ripped the heart out of a demon
and fed it to me, and later we talked
some more.
WILLOW
See, that’s how it should work.
Giles falls into step with them.
GILES
Good morning.
WILLOW
Hi, Giles. Oh, I should get to the
yearbook office. I’m going to give
them the murderer questionnaires.
They really are good reading.
They ad lib good-byes as Willow heads off, and Buffy and Giles walk on together.
GILES
How are you?
BUFFY
Lovin’ the quiet. Nobody in here but me.
GILES
And Jonathan? How is he doing?
BUFFY
Pretty crappy. His parents are freaking,
he’s suspended, and toting a piece to
school not exactly earning him a place
with the ‘in’ crowd. But I think he’s dealing.
GILES
It’s good of you to check up on him.
BUFFY
It’s nice to be able to help someone in
a non-slaying capacity. But he’s starting
to get that look, like he’s gonna ask me
to the prom.
GILES
Well, you know, it would probably help
his self esteem if —
BUFFY
What am I, Saint Buffy? He’s like three
feet tall.
GILES
Good to see you’ve emerged from
your psychic adventure more or less
intact. Feel up to some training?
BUFFY
Sure. We can work out after school.
You know, if you’re not too busy
HAVING SEX WITH MY MOTHER!
BLACK OUT.
END OF SHOW
Transcripts
Buffy runs onto a playground in the park being chased by two flesh colored demons, nasty twisted face, no mouths, you
get it. She trips on the edge of the swing set and falls to the ground. One of the creatures looms over her. She snap kicks
its leg knocking it into the pole of the swing set. She rolls to her feet. It turns to her. Roundhouse to the face and it drops.
She pulls out a knife.
BUFFY You demons can’t resist a run and stumble, can you?
She throws the knife down at one of the creatures and it — catches it. The other one grabs her from behind. She twists out
and chucks it into the swing set pole. Both demons get up, one right in front of the other and face off with her. The first
ducks and the second throws her knife back at her. She catches it. The first demon rushes in to attack. Swift kick to the
stomach and Buffy chucks in over her shoulder onto a picnic table. Then a straight stab down into its heart with the
knife. The second demon runs off as the first grumbles and dies. Buffy yanks the knife back out and turns.
BUFFY One down, one… gone.
Camera moves from shot of the retreating demon to Buffy’s hand, the back covered with a strange glowing substance.
The substance fades into her skin unnoticed. Camera moves over to the dead demon’s body, showing that the glowy stuff
is the demon’s blood.
CREDITS ROLL
**** ACT ONE ****
Opening shot of Sunnydale High on a school day morning.
Cut to Willow and Buffy walking into the library.
WILLOW So scabby demon got away?
BUFFY Scabby demon number two got away. Scabby demon number one, big check in the slay column.
WILLOW I don’t like this whole no mouth thing. It’s disquieting.
BUFFY Well, no mouth means no teeth. Unless they have them somewhere else…
They sit down at the main table where Xander and Oz already are. Giles comes out of his office nearby.
GILES Here we go, we’ve been researching the, uh, mayor’s forthcoming ascension.
OZ It’s pretty riveting stuff.
BUFFY What do we know?
XANDER What don’t we know. Tell her Giles.
GILES Based upon the supposed date, graduation day, and the mayor being impervious to harm, I’ve cross referenced-
XANDER He’s a cross-referencing fool.
GILES And I’ve eliminated several possibilities. It’s not the ritual flaying of the demon Azarath nor the, uh … I don’t
know what’s going to happen.
OZ That was kind of an anti-climax.
BUFFY We don’t know anything? The whole fake Angel thing was for nothing?
GILES No, no, no. If nothing else Angel’s charade has brought Faith’s treachery to the open and this information on the
ascension will prove useful eventually, I just need to put it together. We see Buffy scratching at her hand as Wesley
enters, looking dapper as ever.
WESLEY Terribly sorry, I was detained. Official counsel business. Mr. Giles, you were speaking?
GILES I was just filling Buffy in on my progress regarding the research on the acension.
WESLEY Oh, and what took up the rest of the minute?
GILES Touche. Of course, my work is un- official. I’m sure, however, with the resources of the council at your disposal,
you will have something to add.
WESLEY Well, I am pleased to state, with certainty, that the demon Azarath will not in any way be involved… The
whole gang, minus Giles gets up and heads out of the library, leaving Wesley standing at the head of the table.
WESLEY I’m sure we’ll find out more soon.
GILES Demon Azarath?
Cut to Buffy and Willow in the school hallway at Willow’s locker.
WILLOW So have you talked to Angel lately?
BUFFY Not really. Seeing him bad, even pretend bad, and with Faith…
WILLOW He only kissed her for the greater good.
BUFFY I don’t know. To the naked eye it looked like fun. Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe he wasn’t even tempted. I just wish
I could be sure.
WILLOW As always, I advise you to ask.
BUFFY Think he’d tell me?
RANDOM STUDENT Hogan! Cut to Percy walking towards Willow and Buffy with Hogan, who, like Percy is wearing
a letterman’s jacket. Student goes up to Hogan and shakes his hand.
RANDOM STUDENT Great game man. Xander joins Buffy and Willow.
XANDER Hogan Martin thinks he’s sooooo hot. Like we should all be awed by him cuz he can put a ball in the net.
HOGAN Hey Xander.
XANDER He said my name! He knows my name!
PERCY Hey Will. Hogan and Percy stop at the Scooby Gang.
WILLOW Hi.
PERCY Um, look, I can’t make the study session after school. Ummmm, can we do it 5th period?
WILLOW Ok. Did you finish the reading?
PERCY Most of it.
WILLOW (in school teacher, un-approving type voice) Percy.
PERCY I’ll finish it at lunch.
WILLOW That’s my litttle trooper
HOGAN I don’t know what you’re doing to him. I actually heard him complete a sentence. It had a clause and
everything.
PERCY You’re watching the game, right?
WILLOW Wouldn’t miss it!
XANDER See ya Hogan. The basketball guys leave. Xander leaves too, heading down the hall the opposite way. Buffy
and Willow walk together.
BUFFY You’re going to the game? I didn’t know you liked basketball.
WILLOW I didn’t either. But I really started getting into it. Especially now that we’re in the championship. It’s so
exciting. Too bad you’re patrolling, we’re all going. Oz, Xander, everybody. Willow turns and heads off to class.
BUFFY Great, everybody who isn’t currently Buffy. Buffy scratches her hand again.
Cut to the library office with Giles. Giles has his nose buried in a tome.
GILES You touched one of the demons? Buffy examines her hand under a magnifying lamp.
BUFFY A good touch, not a bad touch. Anyway, it’s been itching like crazy. (she switches off the lamp and swings it
aside) No big, just another problem for the good people at Lubriderm, right? Giles finds a picture of the demon. He set
the book down in front of Buffy.
GILES That’s the demon in question?
BUFFY In the disgusting flesh.
GILES Hmm. He picks the book back up and steps away from her, reading it.
BUFFY What?
GILES It says they can infect the host.
BUFFY Infect? Infect? Giles is still reading.
BUFFY GILES! INFECT?!
GILES Oh um, infect the host with an aspect of the demon. That’s all it says. BUFFY An aspect of the demon?
Buffy grabs the book from him. Looks at it intently.
GILES It’s rather terse isn’t it?
BUFFY You mean like a part of it?
GILES There could be any number of explainations for your hand. A new fabric softner can cause irritation. In any case,
I would advise not to attempt to track the one that got away. Let’s minimize your exposure.
BUFFY Part of the demon? I hope it’s not the outside part.
Cut to the ouside quad. Cordy and some other cheerleaders are leading a rally for the basketball team. The gang is sitting
on a bench off to the side.
CHEERLEADERS H. O. G. A. N. It’s Hogan. Goooo, Hogan. Everyone claps and cheers as Hogan steps out.
BUFFY Is it me or is this really lame?
OZ I don’t know. I usually enjoy lameness, and this is leaving me kinda cold.
WILLOW (reading the school newspaper) Well, according to Freddy’s latest editorial, ‘the pep rally is a place for
psuedo-prostitues to provoke men into a sexual frenzy which, when thwarted, results in pointless athletic competition.’
XANDER And the downside being?
WILLOW The school paper is edging on depressing lately. You guys notice that?
OZ I don’t know. I always go straight to the obits.
Willow notices Buffy running her hands over her hair.
WILLOW What are you doing Buffy?
BUFFY Nothing… Checking for horns. Buffy hops off the bench away from them. Willow quickly goes after her and
they stop to talk a short distance away from Oz and Xander who still watch the rally.
WILLOW Ah, you know, Buffy, I don’t even think Giles is right about you becoming like a demon. I mean he’s totally
burnt. You know, dealing with faith and this ascension thing. Between you and me, he’s not doing his best work.
BUFFY What if he is right? I’m suddenly going to grow this demon part and we don’t even know what it is. It could be
claws or scales… Willow’s expression turns shocked.
BUFFY What?
WILLOW Was it a boy demon?
Cut to cheerleaders.
CHEERLEADERS T. O. M. It’s Tom. Goooo Tom.
Cut to Oz and Xander on the bench.
XANDER They really are very good!
OZ Their spelling’s improved.
XANDER You know Oz, I look at all this beauty, all these healthy young woman and I wonder why I ever wasted my
time on Cordelia. I mean, look at her. She’s no better looking than the rest of them. OZ None of them are really my-
XANDER Oh my God, he’s looking at her! Xander sees Wesley a distance away on the stairs, staring at Cordelia in awe.
XANDER He’s got his filthy adult Pierce Brosny eyes all over my Cordy. Wesley shakes his head and continues up the
stairs.
OZ You’re a very complex man, aren’t you? Back to Will and Buffy….
BUFFY It’s just I’m scared Will. There’s this thing in me and I can’t find it. I can’t stop it. What if it changes me. Not just
the way I look. All of a sudden I could be something that’s not me anymore.
CHEERLEADERS 7. 8. P. E. R. C. Y. It’s Percy. Gooo Percy.
WILLOW (looking away from Buffy and at the cheerleaders) Yeah, woo hoo!…sorry, they spelled Percy, and, and, I
have to show support-he’s needy. But I heard what you were saying, really. And I would be frightened too, but I’m sure
you’re gonna be okay.
Dissolve to Buffy walking down the sidewalk at night. She stops and pulls out her compact mirror, takes a look.
BUFFY Still gotta mouth. She turns and is startled by Angel standing right behind her.
ANGEL Sorry.
BUFFY It’s okay. I didn’t see you so I should have known you were there. What are you doing here? A
NGEL It’s a dangerous time. You know, with Faith.
BUFFY Yeah….Faith. She…well… Faith, what can ya say about her? They walk together.
ANGEL I just wanna make sure you’re, you know, ok. That you’re, safe. She stops and faces him.
BUFFY And the fact that you’re right here, does that mean Faith’s around? Are you keeping me safe by tracking me, or
are you tracking her?
ANGEL I’m tracking you. Something’s bothering you.
BUFFY A lot of things. They start walking again.
BUFFY The most recent being this demon. Actually, two. I touched one of them and now I’m gonna get a big case of the
bumpies, or a tail, or something.
ANGEL An aspect of the demon.
BUFFY You know the drill.
ANGEL By rumor. That doesn’t mean anything. I mean, sometimes demons, they just exagerate their power.
BUFFY Demon hype. Maybe not. I spend all my time in the dark here anyway. It’s not like I’d be at a gain you know
with my friends where someone could see me and my new monster part. Angel grabs her arm and pulls her around to
face him.
ANGEL Hey, I won’t let anything happen to you if I can help it. No matter what, I’ll always be with you. Hey, I’ll love
you even if you’re covered with slime.
BUFFY I liked everything until that part.
Cut to the school the next morning. Willow, Oz and Xander are excitedly entering the lounge area.
WILLOW Could you believe it? Right at the buzzer. Three points for the win. They all sit down.
OZ It was intense.
XANDER Yeah, for a minute there I thought you’re gonna make an expression. OZ Well, I felt one coming on. I won’t
lie.
WILLOW Man, I’ve never seen anyone jump like Hogan Martin. They should call him — the jumper.
XANDER Or a name that isn’t an article of women’s clothing. Hey, remember when-
WILLOW Shhh…. Xander shuts up as Buffy approaches the group.
BUFFY Hmmm… quietness. We either lost, or we won and you don’t want me to feel bad.
WILLOW Well, yeah it wasn’t a really good game.
XANDER Yeah tall hoops, with thin tall guys. What’s the point? Cordelia walks up to get something off a table nearby.
OZ Pretty dull.
CORDELIA Are you guys crazy? That was an incredible game! I’ve never cheered so hard in my life. I still have knee
marks on my back. (off their looks) From the pyramid.
WILLOW Yeah, well, I still bet patrolling was way better cause, wow, important.
BUFFY Well I thought I saw a four legged demon. But it was just a dog.
OZ A weredog?
BUFFY Regular
XANDER Tough luck. Xander looks at Cordy talking with her friends.
XANDER (V.O.) I wonder if she and Wesley have kissed.
BUFFY It really bugs you huh?
XANDER What? BUFFY Cordelia and Wesley, smooching.
XANDER Man, you read my mind. Slow zoom in on Buffy as she realizes what just happened.
**** ACT TWO ****
Buffy walks down the school hallway, in her own world. She bumps into a teacher.
MR. BEECH Ooo, whoa there. You watch where you’re going now.
BUFFY I’m sorry Mr. Beech, I will.
MR. BEECH (V.O.) (as he walks away) Students. If we could just get rid of all the students.
Buffy continues down the hall. Students thoughts assail her.
GEEKY MALE STUDENT (V.O.) When I’m a sophomore jillionaire and you’re all flipping burgers. Who’s the loser
then…
FEMALE STUDENT (V.O.) ‘Maybe I’ll take french, I said. How hard can it be, french babies learn it.’ IDIOT!
SOME STUDENT WITH BAGGY PANTS (V.O.) I swear, someday my pants are gonna fall right off.
ANOTHER MALE STUDENT (V.O.) Buffy is so beautiful. She stops, gives a furtive glance at the guy.
ANOTHER MALE STUDENT (V.O.) I mean, look at that body. She raises her arm to shield a blush.
ANOTHER MALE STUDENT (V.O.) God, I would love to shove her against that locker right now and just oooh. She
mentally freaks and hurries past. She almost bumps into another guy who looks at her. We don’t hear his thought but she
breaks into a run.
Cut to Buffy talking to Giles in the library.
BUFFY Is this the thing? The aspect thing? Because I gotta say, if it is, it is way better than a tail. I mean, I have a hard
enough time finding jeans that fit right.
GILES Buffy, slow down. I’m not even convinced that this is genuine mind reading. You’re most likely projecting your-
BUFFY When I walked in a few minutes ago, you thought ‘Look at her shoes. If a fashion magazine told her to, she’d
wear cats strapped to her feet.
GILES I…um… GILES (V.O.) The demons are telepathic. I should have known. That’s why they didn’t need mouths.
GILES Of course, demons are telepathic!
BUFFY I know, you just told me. That’s why they dont need mouths. And you should have known.
GILES This is astounding.
BUFFY It was happening out in the hallway. Principal Snyder has Walk Like an Egyption stuck in his head. And the
boys at this school are seriously disturbed. It’s wierd, but Giles, think about it. Think about what I could do.
GILES It could be very useful. You could anticipate your opponent’s every move. Turn his plans against him.
BUFFY Oh, way better than that. Cut to Buffy in literature class.
BUFFY Jealousy! Willow is seated to her right, with Xander behind her. Nancy, annoying miss-know-it-all is to Buffy’s
left. The teacher walks around the room.
TEACHER Buffy. Right. Very good.
NANCY (V.O.) I knew that.
TEACHER Jealousy clearly is the tool that Iago uses to undo Othello. But what’s his motivation? What reason does Iago
give for destroying his superior officer?
NANCY (V.O.) Cassio has my place. Twix my sheets, he’s done my office.
BUFFY Well, he was passed over for promotion. Cassio was picked instead and people were saying that Othello slept
with his wife.
WILLOW (V.O.) Buffy did the reading? Buffy understood the reading?
XANDER (V.O.) When did she study? Was I supposed to study? Ms. Murray’s kinda hot.
NANCY (V.O.) I was gonna say Cassio. Uh, I hate her.
TEACHER Any other reason.
NANCY (blurting out) Race!
TEACHER Uh… good Nancy. Can’t overlook that. Boy sitting at Willow’s right,
FREDDY (V.O.) Look at them, scrambling for the teacher’s praise like pigeons for thrown bread crust Buffy turns.
BUFFY (whispering) Will, who’s that guy.
WILLOW That’s Freddy Iverson. He writes those editorials for the school paper. He’s sardonic.
FREDDY (V.O.) Bread crusts. That’s deep. I should write that down. Buffy turns and looks back at the teacher, now at
the front of the room.
TEACHER There’s something else at work here.
BUFFY Well, he, um, he sort of admits himself that his motive are… spurious! He, um, he does things because he, he
enjoys them. It’s like he’s not, he’s not really a person. He’s a, the dark half of Othello himself.
WILLOW (V.O.) Huh…
XANDER (V.O.) Woah! The teacher steps out from behind her desk and approaches Buffy.
TEACHER Buffy. Really. Very astute. I said something quite like that in my dissertation.
BUFFY I know. Uh, I mean… I agree. With that.
TEACHER Yes, and doesn’t that also explain Othello’s readiness to believe Iago. Within seconds he turns on
Desdomona. Camera moves in on Buffy as the teacher speaks.
TEACHER He believes that she’s been unfaithful. And we’re all like that. We all have our little internal Iagos, that tell us
our husbands or our girlfriends or whatever, don’t really love us. But you never really see what’s in someone’s heart.
The classroom scene fades to Angel walking toward his draped over doorway. Buffy opens the drapes. Angel brings up
his arm, shielding himself from the daylight.
BUFFY Oooh sorry. Sorry about the daytime. I just ducked out of school and that’s when they have it. They head into
the main room.
BUFFY Um…you look good. I mean, I, I know I saw you last night, but sometimes things can change really quick. They
sit down on the couch
BUFFY I mean really quick. Listen to me. I’m talking like Faith His eyes snap to hers, then he looks down again.
BUFFY You know, not that she was so bad to have around… You know, before the evil… You know, I think she was
hurting a lot. And some people, protective type people, might be drawn to that I guess… Well, the thing about Faith-
ANGEL You can’t get into my mind.
BUFFY How did you…why not?
ANGEL It’s like the mirror. The thoughts are there, but they create no reflection in you. You got the aspect of the demon.
BUFFY Yeah, Giles doesn’t know how long it’s gonna last. It’s OK, a little headachy, but…
ANGEL You don’t have to play games with me Buffy. Ever.
BUFFY Well, you’re not exactly Joe-here’s- what-I’m-thinking.
ANGEL So ask me.
BUFFY Oh, but that woulda made sense.
ANGEL What do you wanna know about? Faith? How I felt kissing her, pretending to have no soul? Watching you
suffer?
BUFFY Well, since you bring it up…
ANGEL I hated hurting you, more than I could stand.
BUFFY Look, the thing about Faith, I’d understand. You know, she has, you know, that whole bad girl thing working for
her.
ANGEL Kissing her meant nothing. I don’t want a bad girl. I’ve done that before. I’ve lived a long time Buffy, and I’m
past that. I’ve been with dozens of girls like her. More.
BUFFY Oh this honesty stuff is funnn.
ANGEL I mean, there’s no comparison. In two-hundred-forty-three years, I’ve loved exactly one person.
BUFFY Ohh…it is me right?
ANGEL Next time, just ask.
BUFFY Ok.
ANGEL And Buffy, be careful with this gift. A lot of things that seem strong and good and powerful, they can be
painful.
BUFFY Like say, immortality?
ANGEL Exactly, I’m dying to get rid of that.
BUFFY Funny.
ANGEL I’m a funny guy.
Cut to the library where Willow,
Oz, Xander, Cordelia, Buffy, Giles and Wesley are gatherd around the table.
XANDER She can read our minds? Our every impulse and fantasy.
BUFFY Every one.
XANDER (V.O.) Oh god.
CORDELIA (V.O.) I don’t see what this has to do with me.
CORDELIA I don’t see what this has to do with me.
WILLOW Well, I think it’s great. Right? I mean, you enjoy your other slayer powers.
BUFFY Yeah, and it’ll be fun. Did you see Nancy Doyle’s face in English Class today?
WILLOW Yeah, she’s supercompetitive, and you really showed her.
WILLOW (V.O.) She’s hardly even human anymore. How can I be her friend now? She doesn’t need me.
BUFFY No! I do need you.
CORDY Ok, what are you talking about? Because you are soooo creepy right now.
GILES Um…I think there must be some precedence for occurrences such as this. Uh, I’ll research it. Wesley, can you
give me a hand?
WESLEY Of course. Where do you think we should start?
OZ (V.O.) I am my thoughts. If they exist in her, Buffy contains everything that is me and she becomes me. I cease to
exist.
OZ Hmm…
XANDER (V.O.) What am I gonna do? I think about sex all the time! Sex! Help! 4 times 5 is thirty. 5 times 6 is 32.
Naked girls. Naked Women! Naked Buffy! Oh stop me!
BUFFY God Xander! Is that all you think about?
XANDER Actually… bye. Xander runs from the library.
WESLEY Xander has just illustrated something. Chances are, you’re all going to be thinking whatever you least want
Buffy to hear. It’s a question, of course, of mental discipline.
GILES He’s right. There are…
WESLEY (V.O.) Look at Cordelia. No! Don’t look at Cordelia! She’s a student! Oh I am a bad man. I’m a bad, bad man!
Buffy gazes intently at him.
WESLEY Excuse me. Wesley exits into Giles’ office.
WILLOW What’s it like Buffy?
BUFFY I don’t know. It’s a little wierd. But… Look, please, don’t for a second think that I don’t need you, because I do. I
want to share this with you. It’s like all these doors are opening to all these little worlds, and I can just walk right inside.
OZ (V.O.) No one else exists either. Buffy is all of us. We think. Therefore, she is.
WILLOW (V.O.) She knows so much. She knows what Oz is thinking. I never know that. Before long, she’ll know him
better than I do.
BUFFY No, don’t think that.
WILLOW I can’t help it Buffy. I’m sorry, I just can’t. Willow gets up and runs from the library.
OZ If you don’t need me, I’m gonna follow the red-head. Oz leaves also.
BUFFY (to Giles and Cordelia) Guess I won’t be writing that book, ‘Gaining Friends through Telepathy.’
CORDELIA (V.O.) Whatever. I wonder when I can go.
CORDELIA Whatever. Can I go?
WESLEY (sticks his head out of the office) Excuse me. Can you hear me thinking in here? I could go out into the hall.
BUFFY You know what? You stay. I’m getting a headache. I’ll go. Buffy grabs her stuff and exits. Dissolve from
concerned Giles to Buffy walking down the crowded hallway. She hears numerous thoughts all run together.
THOUGHTS (V.O.) She is so hot! I hate my body. No one is ever gonna love me. What if I never get breasts? I can’t
beleive the test is today. He has the cutest butt. She passes Nancy.
NANCY (V.O.) Hmph, I hate her.
Cut to Giles and Wesley in Giles’ office.
GILES Here. It’s happened before. A man in Ecudaor. Quite recently.
WESLEY Can we contact him?
GILES I’d say not. He can’t communicate with anyone.
WESLEY Dead?
GILES No, he’s in complete isolation. The power — he can’t shut it off.
Cut to Buffy standing along the serving line in the cafeteria. Jonathon is next to her in line. The cacophony of thoughts
continues.
THOUGHTS (V.O.) It’s gotta get better. Please tell me it gets better. I hate school.
JONATHAN (V.O.) Am I normal?
JONATHAN Are you through with the mashed potatoes? Buffy looks at him.
JONATHAN (V.O.) She doesn’t even know I’m here. Look at everybody, none of this matters. Buffy steps away from
him to walk into the cafeteria.
THOUGHTS (V.O.) Come on! Come on! She’s a loser. She has the sweetest face I’ve ever seen. Oh my god, quiet down.
If I stand just in the right spot, I can probably see into the arm hole of her top.
All the voices blend into incomprehensable din as Buffy walks through the center of the cafeteria with her tray.
Suddenly, the voices all stop.
EVIL VOICE (V.O.) This time tomorrow, I’ll kill you all!
**** ACT THREE ****
Buffy stands in the center of the cafeteria in lunchtime swing. Everything silent. Her tray slips from her hands. It
smashes and silverware clanks as it hits the floor. Everyone claps and laughs. The thought voices come pouring back.
She runs over, grabs a student, looks at his face.
STUDENT (V.O.) She’s gone nuts. She turns and grabs another girl walking by.
GIRL (V.O.) I hate being here. She grabs and looks at more people as the thoughts blare. She grabs and looks at
Jonathan. J
ONATHAN (V.O.) She touched me.
She turns away from him, looking around at all the students. Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. She puts her hands to her
ears, trying to block them out. The camera spins dizzily. Buffy lets go of her ears and drops to the floor unconscious.
Black.
Fade up on Willow, Xander, Cordy, Giles and Oz looking down at the camera, trees in the background above them.
WILLOW (V.O.) I think she’s waking up now.
OZ (V.O.) She’s ok.
GILES (V.O.) Oh thank god!
XANDER (V.O.) Her eyes are opening.
CORDELIA (V.O.) I’m cold.
GILES You alright?
CORDELIA I told them not to move you. They probably severed your spinal cord.
BUFFY I’m ok. Buffy sits up.
GILES Buffy… Giles holds onto her.
BUFFY No really. I’m OK. Listen, there’s a killer in the cafeteria.
XANDER See, I’ve been saying for years that the lunch lady’s gonna do us all in with that Mulligan Stew.
CORDELIA (hits him on the arm) Xander.
XANDER I mean, what the hell’s a Mulligan?
BUFFY Someone was thinking about it. They thought ‘This time tomorrow, I’ll kill you all.’ I have to find them. Giles
helps her up.
GILES Well, did you, uh, recognize a voice?
BUFFY No. WILLOW Boy or girl?
BUFFY I don’t know. I mean, it was hardly human. It was full of so much anger and pain. She starts to walk away from
them. The cacophony of their thoughts intrudes.
THOUGHTS (V.O.) Annoying. It builds and she stumbles back. Giles keeps her from falling.
GILES Buffy, count.
BUFFY No, I have to find them.
XANDER Yeah, I mean, who hasn’t just idly thought about taking out the whole place with a semi-automatic? Everyone
stares at Xander.
XANDER I said idly.
BUFFY I know the difference. He… she… whoever, they meant it. They’re gonna do it.
GILES (V.O.) She looks so tired.
WILLOW (V.O.) How horrible.
CORDELIA (V.O.) I’m not getting any warmer.
XANDER (V.O.) I bet it was Hogan.
OZ (V.O.) Who could it be?
BUFFY (grabbing her head) Shut up!… Uh, I’m sorry. I, it’s just, can you guys not think so loud? Or, so much…
GILES Buffy, you should go home. I, I’ll take you home.
BUFFY Yeah, ok, wha-No! Look, I need you guys to go back to the cafeteria. Make a list of everyone who’s there. We
have to find the killer before lunch tomorrow.
WILLOW We’ll do it Buffy. A list of all the students.
BUFFY Yeah. Nancy was there. She’s scary. And, uh, oh teachers too. Mr. Beech, he thought something about getting rid
of all the students.
GILES Come on. Giles helps her away and the group walks the other way.
BUFFY I can’t shut it out Giles. It’s like this invasion of my head. It’s like there’s these strangers walking around in there.
It’s just a… Look at this, I can’t even be around people anymore. Not that they’re really clamboring to be near me
anyway. Even you.
GILES I’m sorry Buffy. It’s hard for all of us. Wesley and I are, are looking for a way to help.
BUFFY I’ll be okay right? I mean, even if you can’t get rid of it? They reach the passenger side of Giles’ car.
GILES You’ll be fine. I promise. He steps away from her.
GILES (V.O.) If it doesn’t go away she’ll go insane. Buffy stops dead in her tracks, shocked at Giles’ thoughts.
Cut to Oz, Willow, Cordy and Xander sit in the library at the table. Willow has the list.
WILLOW I think we have everyone that was in the cafeteria. I’ll do some computer work. Match it against the FBI
mass- murderer profiles. See if maybe we can rule some people out.
XANDER I’m still having trouble with the fact that one of us is just gonna gun everybody down for no reason.
CORDY Yeah, because that never happens in American High Schools.
OZ It’s bordering on trendy at this point.
WILLOW Besides which, Sunnydale High, center of evil and all that. Let’s get to work. We have till lunch time
tomorrow. We hope.
Cut to Buffy at home in bed. Joyce folds her blanket over.
JOYCE There, you look better already.
BUFFY Thanks mom. Joyce speeds out into the hallway.
JOYCE I’m uh, I’m just going to get you another pillow.
BUFFY I really don’t need one. Joyce comes back in with the pillow.
JOYCE But you need another blanket.
She sets the pillow on the bed, turns back again.
BUFFY Uh, mom, I’m fine. Joyce grabs the blanket, comes back in.
JOYCE How about, some soup? Chicken and stars. She sets the blanket on the bed.
BUFFY Mom, please, just come sit with me. Joyce fidgets and steps back from the bed. J
OYCE I’ve uh, I’ve got laundry.
BUFFY Why are you…? (she bolts up in bed) You had sex with Giles?!
JOYCE (gasps)
BUFFY YOU HAD SEX WITH GILES?!
JOYCE (turns to hurry out of the room) It was the candy! We were teenagers!
BUFFY On the hood of a police car?!?
JOYCE (stops just outside the room looking back) I’ll be downstairs. You feel better. (she hurries away)
BUFFY (calling after her) TWICE!!!!
Cut to Oz, Xander and Cordy at the counter in the library. Willow is behind the counter.
WILLOW Okay, I’ve taken our list and narrowed it down to a dozen strong suspects. Here are your personalized
assignments. She starts handing out worksheets.
XANDER Ooo, I was hoping there’d be assignments.
CORDY I think I should work with Wesley.
XANDER You have no shame.
CORDY Oh please, like shame has something to be proud of
. WILLOW Be quiet! (off their looks) Sorry, but, but this is important. Talk to everyone on your list. And use the sample
questions. They look over the sheets as Willow eyes them.
WILLOW Today people! The three go to exit the library.
WILLOW Oh! Write neatly. And, and label your worksheets. Time
cut to Will in the library interrogating Jonathan.
WILLOW Fantasy’s are fun, aren’t they Jonathan?
JONATHAN Uh… I guess.
WILLOW We all have fantasies that we’re powerful, more respected. Where people pay attention to us.
JONATHAN Uh… maybe.
WILLOW But sometimes the fantasy isn’t enough, is it Jonathan? Sometimes we have to make it so people don’t ignore
us. Make them pay attention. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?
JONATHAN Em, you… Want me to pay attention? Willow looks a little flustered.
Cut to Oz talking to Hogan outside at the basketball hoop. He sinks a basket.
HOGAN This is for the yearbook?
OZ Yeah. Personality profile.
HOGAN Can you ask it again?
OZ Sure. Do you ever feel that you’ve created a false persona for yourself, ‘the guy who does everything right,’ – and
how much of a strain does it put on you to maintain it?
HOGAN Uh, wow, I guess… Moderate strain. Is that a good answer? I want to get this right.
OZ Yeah, that’s good.
Cut to Cordy walks up to Mr. Beech in his classroom as he erases the board.
CORDELIA Hi Mr. Beech! I was just wondering, were you planning on killing a bunch of people tomorrow? (smiles)
Oh, it’s for the yearbook!
Cut to Xander, talking to three cute girls sitting on the stairway.
XANDER Okay, so turnoff’s include smoking, insensitive men, and burkenstocks. Now, your idea of a perfect evening?
Katie, let’s start with you.
Cut to Oz entering the school yearbook/school paper office.
OZ Uh, Freddy?
Oz steps inside. He looks at the wall which has framed front pages of the Sunnydale High Sentinel. Oz looks across the
headlines. ‘Teachers Fail Competency Exam’, ‘Drop-outs find Happiness’ and ‘Apathy on the Rise, No One Cares’. Oz
turns and exits the room. The camera pans down to find Freddy, hiding under the desk.
Cut to Buffy standing at her bedroom window. It’s dark outside and she has the window open. The range on her power
has grown.
THOUGHTS (V.O.) I should have just quit, no job is worth it. Look at him smiling, like he thinks I don’t know about
her. I’m going to tell him we’re going to have a baby, Oh, I’m so happy! I can’t beleive we’re getting away with this. One
more drink then I’ll… [baby voice babble]
Buffy closes the window and climbs into bed. The thoughts blend into one long, rambling, incoherent stream. Our
heroine curls up under the covers and presses a pillow to her head.
Cut to Giles and Wesley putting in late night research at the library. Wesley is mixing some ingrediants
WESLEY Well, it seems to be coming along all right.
GILES Yes, Buffy’s being driven mad, we have no proof that this is going to work, and it still requires the heart of the
second demon, which we have no idea how to get without the slayer.
WESLEY Negative thinking doesn’t solve problems.
GILES Who is going to get the demon heart? (to himself) Burke.
Cut to the second demon flying through the air. It lands none-to-gently, smashing a picnic table. It hops back up and
Angel steps in to throw a punch which it dodges. The demon punches Angel. Angel shrugs it off, returns a punch, then
steps in to throw the creature up onto a second picnic table (which doesn’t give). The demon gets back to its feet as
Angel leaps up onto the table. Angel gives it a solid punch that backflips it off the table. He jumps down. They wrestle
for a moment and Angel ends up twisting the demon’s arm and throwing it into a jungle gym. He comes in to continue
but the demon backhands him, the blow spins him to the ground. Angel shakes his head, recovering from the blow. He
looks up to see the demon running to escape. He gets up and pursues.
Cut to Buffy in bed the next morning. Joyce sits, curled up with a blanket on a chair in Buffy’s room. Buffy is asleep, but
tossing and turning.
Cut to the school. Willow is talking to Nancy in an empty classroom.
NANCY Do I often imagine classmates are spying on me, or otherwise acting suspiciously?
WILLOW Right.
NANCY Not until just now.
Cut to Xander sitting at a table by the soda machine with Larry. Larry is eating lunch.
LARRY What? Talk louder dude.
XANDER I’m just saying, it’s gotta be frustrating, having the secret. You gotta be kinda filling up with resentment,
unexpressed rage, just waiting to burst out. Today at lunch…?
LARRY (overly loud)) What secret? Being gay? Man, I’m out! I’m so out I got my grandma fixing me up with guys.
XANDER That’s uh, nice.
LARRY But it sounds like, uh, you’re having a rough time with it.
Xander gets uncomfortable.
LARRY Look, just do it. That weird Freddy Iverson guy that does the school paper-
XANDER He’s gay?
LARRY No dude, but I bet he’d put in like a coming out announcement for you. Something tasteful.
Cut to Oz, goes up to the newspaper office door. It’s locked. He knocks.
OZ Freddy.
We see Freddy stop at a corner behind him. Freddy turns and goes the other way.
Cut to Cordy, Oz, Willow and Xander in the library.
WILLOW He’s the only one we couldn’t find?
OZ Yeah. Freddy Iverson.
CORDELIA The newspaper guy? But we can’t figure out if it’s him without the worksheet, right?
XANDER (holding up the newspaper) We do have this people. Today’s editorial titled ‘Big Game Draws Mindless Brain
Dead Mob’
CORDELIA Does he mention the cheerleaders? Because we were on.
Cut to Buffy tossing and turning in her bed. Giles and Joyce stand in the doorway to Buffy’s room.
JOYCE I can’t stand this. I keep wondering if I’m hurting her with my thoughts.
GILES You’re not. Not anymore. She can’t pick one thought out of the… out of the din.
A knock comes from downstairs. They turn and bolt for downstairs. Wesley beats them to door below. He opens it and a
smoking figure covered in a blanket steps inside. The figure pulls off the blanket and we see it’s Angel. He holds a vial
of glowing blue liquid.
ANGEL I got it.
Cut to upstairs. Angel sets the potion on a burner. He sits down on the bed and pulls Buffy up into his arms.
BUFFY (dazed, confused) Uh, no.
ANGEL I’m gonna help you.
He grabs the potion and feeds it to her. She struggles but can’t really resist. She gulps some of it down. He sets the potion
aside and lays her back on the pillow. She seems better. He kisses her forehead. She starts to freak, thrashing and
kicking, not knowing what she’s doing.
ANGEL Giles!
Cut to the Sunnydale High Quad. With the ‘something’s up’ background music playing. The camera pans around the
students moving about. The Scooby Gang passes through frame. The camera moves and then tilts up so we see the clock
tower. Reverse to from the clocktower looking down at the Quad. The camera pulls back into the darkness of the tower.
We see Johnathan step into view. He crouchs down and opens a steel case. Inside, the disassembled parts of a high
powered rifle. He grabs one of the pieces.
**** ACT FOUR ****
Buffy’s bedroom. Angel kneels at her bedside, her hand clasped in his. Her eyes open and she turns her head to look at
him.
BUFFY Angel.
Buffy’s mother sits down on the bed and we see Giles and Wesley in the room just behind her.
JOYCE Thank god! Are you all right? Do you hear thoughts?
BUFFY No. Did you find the killer?
Cut to Freddy sitting at his desk in the newspaper office. Willow, Oz, and Cordy burst through the main door. Freddy
springs out of his chair to go out a side door but Xander comes walking through that one.
FREDDY Ok Oz, you got me. (holds up his hand defensivly and sits back down) What are you’re friends gonna do?
Hold me down?
WILLOW You better believe it buster! You can’t threaten a big murder without getting us pretty darn ticked!
FREDDY Murder? What murder? You’re not here about the review?
OZ The review?
FREDDY Yeah. Last Thursday. Freddy leafs through a paper on his desk, hands it to Oz.
OZ (reading) Dingoes Ate My Baby play their instruments as if they have plump polish sausages taped to their fingers.
FREDDY Sorry man.
OZ (shrugs, sets down the paper) No, it’s fair.
FREDDY I just get a lot of hate mail and I thought you were gonna come and deliver some personaly.
XANDER Hey, if you find any tasteful announcement about me from Larry-
WILLOW Xander, we have to figure this out.
CORDELIA We have no shot. The killer could be anyone. We lose. Buffy enters behind the gang
BUFFY We still have a few minutes.
WILLOW Buffy!
XANDER You’re okay. Can you hear thoughts?
BUFFY (shakes her head)
XANDER Just when I wasn’t thinking about sex.
BUFFY Okay, here’s the new plan. We’re going to get Snyder to evacuate the school. I just hope the killer’s not waiting
outside.
CORDELIA (reading from a letter off of Freddy’s desk) By this time tomorrow, you’ll all know what I’ve done. I’m sure
you understand that I had to do it, and that although death is never easy, it’s the only way.’ (beat) God! Doesn’t anyone
write in to praise the Cheerleaders! We are so unsung.
Willow grabs the letter.
WILLOW Jonathan! Oh, I had him in my grasp. Slippery weasel.
BUFFY Split up. Find him.
Cut to Jonathan, assembling the rifle. Cut to Oz opening a classroom door. He looks quickly around. It’s empty.
Cut to Jonathan sliding the bolt action into place.
Cut to Willow runs into the library.
WILLOW Jonathan! Are you in here? Nope. She turns to run out.
Cut to Jonathan reaches into the case and pulls out the front stock and barrel.
Cut to Xander runs into the cafeteria.
XANDER Jonathan! Jonathan! He skids to a halt in the center of the caf. Looks around. Sees something.
XANDER Ooo, Jello.
Cut to Jonathan lifts the front stock and barrel up to the rest of the gun assembly.
Cut to Cordelia hurries into the student lounge. She grabs one guy, looks at him. She moves over, grabs another one,
looks straight at him. Frustrated she turns to leave.
Cut to Jonathan snaps the front stock and barrel into place.
Cut to Buffy runs into the Quad, looking at groups of students. She stops in the middle. She sees Larry. She sees Nancy.
She turns and looks up, shielding her eyes from the sun. She sees him in the clocktower holding the rifle. Buffy charges
forward. She makes it to the base of the stairs. She hops onto the railing and runs up it. Students make noise at the
spectacle and Nancy turns to see her. Buffy leaps up toward the roof grabbing onto the edge. She swings herself forward
in a ball, then back, up, and over she does a back flip forward to land on her feet on the rooftile.
NANCY I could have done that.
Cut to Jonathan puts a bullet in the chamber. Cut to Buffy runs across the roof.
Cut to Jonathan slides the bolt home, the gun’s ready to fire. Buffy smashes through a boarded up tower window behind
him landing in a crouch. He spins surprised and holds the rifle pointing at her.
JONATHAN Get away from me! Buffy slowly stands up.
BUFFY Ok Jonathan, you wanna point that somewhere else? He points the rifle slightly to the side.
JONATHAN Don’t you try and stop me!
BUFFY (puts her hands up but takes a step forward) No, no no stopping. Just here for view. Hey, look, City Hall.
JONATHAN (frazzled and sweating) Go away!
BUFFY Never gonna happen.
JONATHAN You think I won’t use this? BUFFY I don’t know Jonathan. (takes a step forward) I just- JONATHAN
(Lurches back from her, aims the gun straight at her) Stop doing that!
BUFFY Doing what? J
ONATHAN Stop saying my name like we’re friends! We’re not friends! You all think I’m an idiot! A short idiot!
BUFFY (matter-of-factly) I don’t. I don’t think about you much at all. Nobody here really does. Bugs you, doesn’t it. You
have all this pain, and all these feelings and nobody’s really paying attention.
JONATHAN You think I just want attention?
BUFFY No. I think you’re up in the clock tower with a high-powered rifle because you wanna blend in. Believe it or not,
Jonathan, I understand about the pain.
JONATHAN Oh right. Cuz the burden of being beautiful and athletic, that’s a crippler.
BUFFY You know what? I was wrong. You are an idiot. My life happens to, on occasion, suck beyond the telling of it.
Sometimes more than I can handle. And it’s not just mine. Every single person down there is ignoring your pain because
they’re too busy with their own.
Jonathan lowers the rifle more. Buffy steps toward the window. She looks down at the Quad below.
BUFFY The beautiful ones. The popular ones. The guys that pick on you. Everyone.
Jonathan slowly moves up behind her to see what she sees. He steps up right next to her.
BUFFY If you could hear what they were feeling. The loneliness. The confusion. It looks quiet down there. It’s not. It’s
deafening. She turns to face him.
BUFFY You know, I could’ve taken that by now.
JONATHAN I know.
BUFFY (holds her hand out) I’d rather do it this way. He thinks a moment, then hands her the rifle. She turns and pulls
the bolt back, ejecting the bullet. She sets the gun down, then turns back to him.
JONATHAN I just wanted it to stop.
BUFFY Yeah, well, mass-murder, not really doctor recomended for that type of pain. Besides, prison, you know, it’s a lot
like high school, only instead of noogies- JONATHAN What are you talking about?
BUFFY Actions having consequences. You know, stuff like that.
JONATHAN I, I, I wouldn’t ever hurt anybody.
BUFFY (Huh? expression)
JONATHAN I came up here to kill myself.
Cut to Xander wanders back into the cafeteria kitchen. He sees a whole tray full of jello in little bowls. He grabs one of
them. He pulls the red jello block out, lifts it to his mouth. As he does he looks up and stops dead in his tracks. The
obese lunchlady stands over a cooking pot pouring in a big ole box labeled ‘Rat Poison’. She looks straight at Xander. It’s
a Mexican stare off. From her to him to her to him. Xander drops the bowl and runs. The lunchlady drops the rat poison
and grabs a butcher’s knife.
Cut to Xander runs into the caf.
XANDER RAT POISON! RAT POISON!
He knocks over a table. Crazed he turns knocks over another one. He runs, knocks a bunch of trays off another table.
The lunchlady bursts out from the kitchen doors. Xander tries to escape but trips over a chair and tumbles to the floor.
The lunchlady charges up. Xander shields himself as she pulls her arm back. Buffy Summers clamps her hand on the
lunchlady’s wrist, preventing her from swinging.
BUFFY Okay, let’s calm down.
LUNCHLADY Vermin! You’re all vermin. You come in here and you eat, and you eat. Filth!
BUFFY I don’t see this being settled with logic.
Buffy pulls the lunchlady forward by her arm, then twists her wrist back. The butcher’s knife flys across the room,
rebounds off a wall, and clatters to the ground. The lunchlady takes a swing at Buffy which Buffy easily ducks. Buffy
double hooks the lunchlady hitting both times. The lunchlady lurches back. Buffy finishs her with a reverse roundhouse.
The large woman flies across the room, knocking over tables and a student. She’s out. Buffy turns to Xander, still
terrified on the floor.
Dissolve to outside Sunnydale High the next morning. Willow and Buffy walk up the first set of steps together.
WILLOW So you’re feeling better about Angel?
BUFFY: Well, we talked, and then he ripped out the heart of a demon and fed it to me, and then we talked some more.
WILLOW See! That’s how it should work! Giles walks up to them.
GILES Morning.
WILLOW & BUFFY Hi, Giles. WI
LL Oh! I should get to the yearbook office. I’m gonna give ’em the murderer profiles. They’re really a good read.
Buffy waves bye.
GILES Bye.
WILLOW Cya. Buffy and Giles continue on together. GILES How are you?
BUFFY Loving the quiet. Nobody in here but me.
GILES Jonathan? How’s he?
BUFFY Pretty crappy. His parents are freaking. He got suspended. And toting a piece to school, not exactly winning him
a place with the in-crowd. But, I think he’s dealing.
GILES Well, it’s good of you to check on him.
BUFFY Well, it’s nice to be able to help someone in a non-slaying capacity. Except, he’s starting to get that look, you
know, like he’s gonna ask me to Prom.
GILES Well, it would probably be good for his self-esteem, if you…
BUFFY Oh come on! What am I, Saint Buffy? He’s like three feet tall!
GILES I’m glad to see you’ve recovered from your psychic encounter more or less intact. Feel up to some training?
BUFFY Sure. We can work out after school. You know, if you’re not too busy having sex with my MOTHER!
At which point Giles walks right into a tree.
BLACK OUT
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